AMATEUR ROCK LOBSTER HARVEST REGULATIONS - FINAL ...

• Tasman and Sounds Recreational Fishers’ Association Inc (TASFISH)
• Te Ohu Kaimoana (Te Ohu)
• Top of the South Recreational Forum (TSRF)
• Wellington Recreational Marine Fishers’ Association (Inc.) (WRMFA)
MFish Discussion of Submissions
Hand-Operated Lassoes
20 Seventeen of the twenty submitters strongly support permitting the use of
hand-operated lassoes for the amateur harvest of rock lobster. CRAMAC5
reports commercial fishers in CRA5 observe a large number of legless and
damaged lobsters being caught in the pots after a high use dive period in their
region. Morris notes that the use of a lasso to harvest crayfish by the tail
drastically minimises the chances of breaking rock lobster legs and horns.
The NZRFC, NZRLIC and SeaFIC all indicate that permitting the use of
hand-operated lassoes appears to reflect current practice in the amateur
fishery. Both the NZRFC and TASFISH believe that methods of input
control for the amateur rock lobster harvest regulation should be restricted to
fish size and bag limits. MFish notes that the majority of submitters endorse
the research presented by the NZRFC that shows rock lobster may suffer
fewer injuries when harvested under the proper use of hand-operated lassoes
compared to hand gathering.
21 The NZRLIC would prefer to see the proposed exclusion of spring-operated
lassoes to be more rigorous than currently described under both options. It
believes that the prohibition should apply to the possession of spring-loaded
lassoes in any circumstances. The NZRLIC notes there is no species for
which lassoes are used as the primary capture method and for which a handoperated
lasso would be any less effective than a spring-loaded one. MFish
is aware that some amateur fishers use spring-loaded lassoes to harvest
octopus but is unclear whether this usage is common. Te Ohu recommends
that MFish explore opportunities to improve diver awareness around the safe
use of lassoes if permitted.
22 Morris suggests that any permitted lasso design should have a maximum
closing gap to further aid in the prevention of damage to the crayfish once
full closed. MFish will consider this in the development of permitted handoperated
lasso design regulations.
23 Opposition to the use of hand-operated lassoes focuses on the potential
removal of large breeding lobsters that are currently out of range from handgathering
practices, and that the use of lassoes gives rock lobster very little
chance of evading capture. The NISERRFF also expressed concern that the
use of lassoes would enable the catch rates to increase in already depleted
fisheries. MFish recognises that some lobsters may be less able to evade
capture when targeted using hand-operated lassoes, but current permitted
methods are not meant to restrict the location or type (e.g. large breeding) of
lobsters harvested.